S Korea’s OCI firms up October shutdown dates for Pohang PA units

20 September 2012 11:11[Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--?xml:namespace>South Korea’s OCI Co has firmed up the maintenance schedule for its two operating phthalic anhydride (PA) units in Pohang next month, a company source said on Thursday.

Its 20,000 tonne/year No 1 PA unit will be shut on 8-30 October for a catalyst change, while its No 2 unit with the same capacity will be taken off line on 24-28 October for maintenance, the source said.

OCI is currently running the two units at full capacity, the source said.

The company is building up PA inventory to maintain supply to its downstream plasticizer plants and to the domestic market during the shutdown period of the two units, the source said.

OCI has a third PA unit with a 40,000 tonne/year capacity, which has been shut since September 2011. The company has no immediate plans to restart this unit.